silly76

Hey Everyone,

Thought we would update this as to what happened as what we thought was wrong ... was infact not ... and it was a surprise to learn what was wrong .. and have my baby all back up and running like a dream in 2 hours!! Thanks heaps to Guido and the boys at BM Workshop.

So, were on our way to see Glenn at Botany about getting a diagnostic done because the engine was missing intermittently and the engine management light was on.

On the motorway the temperature gauge shot right up in the red and even the bright red light came on ... luckily no one next to me in the lane so I was able to pull off straight away and stop the car. Looking at the engine, it didn't look like it was overheated, and given the problems we were having, we thought something big might have happened. We opened the bonnet and put up the heater to helped cool down the engine, and yes it worked, but pulling the radiator cap off showed absolutely no water!

Now, we don't neglect our cars, owning Bentley manuals for each of them, and we went up north two weekends ago and checked everything prior. All ok.

Had it towed back to Guidos and totally upset about the whole ordeal we waited around to see if they thought there was anything major. Luckily, we weren't driving while the light was on for a long time and the motor wasn't hot so it didn't quite seem like a ''head gasket'' type issue. On needed to assess the car and get it comfortable one of the boys poured water into the radiator .... and hello ... out it came in a gush ... ????

Yes, apparently after so long expansion tanks can crack and your water slowly seeps out into the big wide world .... f$#% .... so it wasn't bad for a one reaon, being we pulled over straight away, let the car cool down using the heater, and the car was doing all the right things in terms of the engine management system .. but it does show you that even though the engine light is for emission control, it can actually mean a bit more than that.

So, as soon as it was missing I should have dianosed it straight away on the tester ... and check the waters a lot more as the cars get older because these are quite frequent (2-3 years) as they are only plastic and your warning lights for water leaks probably doesn't take this into account. Apparently no metal ones sold for my particular model.

Now even though it was gushing out at BM Workshop, it might not have been gushing before but with winter on you just don't realise. No warning at all on the expansion tank.

So there you go, a few lessons learned. My car is back on the road and I'm happy. Not too much cost either which was good. Thanks for all the advice guys, we really appreciate the comments you guys make with ideas on what it could have been.

Happy Driving

Silvana and Brendan

I'm guessing the best thing to do it get it diagnostic test on the car ... we are in Central Auckland so if there is anyone close who has what is needed to do this then let me know.

Glenn, I wouldn't be able to get it out East today ... do you have a diagnostic tester?

Hey Everyone,

Couple of questions:

1. On my dashboard cluster, lower left hand side, a symbol what looks like a engine, has appeared. I have checked in the Bentley manual and it says to "check engine etc" ... does anyone have an idea as to what things might need to be checked when they say this?

2. Two days ago my engine started to idle funny. We think the miss could be a plug- place to start - but does anyone know how we can check what the fault may be? We have an Ohm Meter and the Bentley manual but were hoping to get a few ideas as to maybe where to start?

Look forward to hearing what might be wrong with my baby :-(

Silvana and Brendan

Your 5 year old tells people that BMW's ARE the best car in the world and anything else is just crap ...

Excellent, thanks for the reply.

Will delete them now.

Hey Guys and Gals,

I wasn't too sure where to mention this but over the last week or two I have been getting some personal messages sent to me through bimmersport from Deleted Members. I haven't really looked at them because the Member name comes up as Deleted Member and was wondering if these messages are "bugs" themselves.

Has anyone else got these or had these before?

Silvana

Excellent, thanks very much. Will check them out.

Silvana

Hey Everyone,

You may already know, or not know, that the E30 touring that we are reconditioning will hopefully be coming home shortly The engine is ready to go back in and while Brendan does that I want to find out about sprucing the rest of it up.

There are M3 leather seats already in the front, and we have some leather already purchased, but does anyone know a place, that is reasonable in price and trustworthy, where we can get the back seats done?

Appreciate the help

Silvana

Not that I know of

anyway its still cheaper than what we pay here

would like to know if there are other good sites that people have used

Just had a look

pretty good

parts prices presume in US$ ?

Didnt have a price for the cooler

Having priced up parts here in Auckland it seems that there are substantial price differences if ordering from overseas.Granted some of these appear to be aftermarket but still the price difference is huge.

I'm looking at Pelican parts in the states for say an oil cooler, Here best I can do is about $700 bucks plus the rest of the bits you need,whereas I can get one shipped in 12 days for half that cost including shipping.

The site seems good but am aware that its for US spec cars. Any comment?What do others do to get new bits?

thanks

i use the kms to judge what the big ticket items might be coming up but he main thing for me is the overall condition and or desireablilty of the car.The kilometres themselves dont really come into it.Spending hundreds every 100.000 k for a new radiator and or new suspension bushings is more sensible to me than $10000-$20,000 for a new carAt 250,000 my 535 is no different than when i bought it at 147,000(except for the items mentioned above)

I agree with you. Look at the kms for the big ticket items that may start to need replacing, but I've driven cars that are well over 100kms, e.g. Rapala's E30 touring and damn it is just great. Up North, down South, it just drives so well. Depending on how a car has been looked after it can go for a long time.

Extend your driveway?

hahahaha

You can never have too many bimmers!!

Good luck with the sale, Sounds very nice.

Do you have any pictures?

Yeah, just posted them up now. Still getting use to entering stuff into the forums!!!

Yes, can't have too many beemas I totally agree .... but we can't move house at the moment and we aren't too keen on keeping them on the road. Hopefully it will go to a good owner.

Hey Everyone,

Sadly I am parting with my E46 Sedan due to my new love with the BMW Tourings

Prior to putting it on TradeMe I thought I would let all the genuine BMW lovers have a look at it first. Will have it on here until Sunday night, Monday it will go up on TradeMe.

Details as follows:

1999 Motorsport 323i

Sedan

Silver in colour

122643kms

Steptronic

Sunroof

Motorsport mags

Full black leather interior

Excellent body condition

Seat heaters (front ones only)

Ski Bag

Serviced by BMWorkshop and Centreline Suspension.

I brought this car about a year and a half ago and the reason for buying this one in particular was that no one had played around with it and therefore everything was original. I then had the ability to spend money on it and bring it up to scratch as well as make the car my own.

Following items are all new:

V-Belt

Belt Tensioner Mulibelts

Belt Tensioner Pulley

Expansion Tank

Trans Thermostat

Radiator Assy

Wat Pump O-Ring

Oil Filter

Washer Pump, Bush and Jet

Brake pads and rotors for all four wheels

Front suspension arms

Rear bushes

Front wheel bearings

Money spent thus far was to pretty much bring it up to scratch. I didn't quite start making it my own as once I started driving Rapala's E30 Touring around ... well the rest is history ... I bought an E46 Touring!!! Having a little boy it has been a lot more practical for us and sadly the Sedan was the one that had to go as we just can't have four Beemas in the drive :-(

The car itself is just gorgeous and drives well. We have taken it up North and down South a number of times and it just loves the open road as most Beemas do.

If you have any questions just let me know.

Asking Price $20,000.

Ph:021 277 1595

love the vids

I think I saw that lady with the shopping trolley down at Countdown in Ponsonby .....

By the way, the second clip .. I doubt any bloke would let his woman tow the boat .... so I'm guessing it wasn't a female driving ....

Oh and I've seen men do worse ....

Yep, I have had two E46's (sedan and touring) and both have done that.

Does anyone actually know if this can be turned off or not?

(Sorry if someone has already mentioned this - haven't read all the comments yet!!!)

Yeah, would be good to have a facebook page but dedicated to the NZ Beema drivers .... not the international ones ... agree that it ruins the community.

Love it ... so true ....

BMWorkshop is totally focused on BMW's. Have had all mine and even other people I know take their cars their without issues. Not too pricy either.

So a few people in the neighborhood... I'm just around the corner from Dida's bar

Might need to have a neighbourhood get together then!!!

Hello and welcome,

Was that pic taken around the Ponsonby/ Herne Bay area ( or have I just embarrassed myself? )

Haha, no you haven't embarrassed yourself ... you are right about the area. Would you be quite familiar with it?

Like the pic of your car ... which side of the bridge was it taken on?

Welcome to bimmersport Silvana. Is your touring an auto or manual? Get some more pics up!

It's a tiptronic. Can't stand full autos and a bit lazy with having a full manual ... so it had to be a compromise.

Hey Silvana

Welcome along That's a really nice looking touring. I like the pair of twin exhausts but are the far set actually connected to anything?

Anyway nice to see you here and enjoy the site

Cheers

Simon

Haha, yeah the exhausts are actually attached - I grew up around cars so wouldn't get taken for a ride on that one!!!

They are slightly loud (some might think that's an understatement ... but it depends on what your version of loud is!). It cruises nicely at 1500 revs around the city with a nice purring sound ... but when you put your foot down everyone finds out about it!!!

Hey Everyone,

After loving Beemas since I was a wee girlie, I have had BMWs for the last few years but just recently purchased my favourite and the one to keep ... a 2000 325i Touring ... can't wait to make this even better than it already is.

Good to see lots of people sharing opinions and notes and their love of Beemas ...

See you around

Silvana :-)